Deciding which cellular phone to buy is a daunting task these days. Not too long ago, cellular telephones served one purpose; making phone calls. Dial. Send. End. You selected a phone to purchase simply because it was “cute”. Now it’s possible to send video, pictures, text messages, check your email and even get an alert when your favorite sports team scores a point. These features also add confusion to what used to be a fairly straightforward purchase.

Technology has advanced the cell phone into a modern day convenience that many cannot do without.

Buying a cell phone today has become akin to buying a car. What model? What features? What color? How much storage (yes, storage, for all of those pictures and video snippets)? Battery life? Price? Ringtones? Ringback tones? Airplane mode? Bluetooth?

Determining which cell phone to purchase requires you to determine your typical mobile communication needs. Mobile phones, today, are split into two broad categories – “Smart phones” and traditional “Voice phones”. Smart phones provide advanced capabilities and employ a complete operating system. Smart phone service plans are typically more expensive than traditional calling plans; ranging from $79.99 to $219.99 per month at one national cellular provider. These plans are referred to as “voice & data”; the “data” portion is what the smart phone requires to operate its advanced features. The units themselves range from around $149.99 to over $399.99, depending on the manufacturer.

Smart phones can send and receive email (with attachments) in real time, browse any website, act as a broadband connection for a laptop, employ advanced GPS services, play music & video, plus you can customize it to turn off and on at certain times to conserve battery life.

Oh yeah, they can also make and receive calls.

With all of their exquisite offerings, the Smart phone hasn’t exactly left the Voice phone in a trail of dust. Traditional Voice phone service offers many of the same features of their broadband counterparts. You can send text, picture and video messages, access mobile email (not in real time), browse mobile-only websites, download and listen to music and watch video, all for about $39.99 per month. The cost of a traditional cell phone handset is pretty much a non-factor, considering that they are practically given away when you sign up for a two-year service agreement.

The difference between the two types of service is the ability to customize sources of information. Smart phones can be integrated into corporate networks, thereby allowing you to access information when you are away from the office. Traditional voice phones do not have this capability, and you can only access what the service carrier provides plus content from mobile only websites. To take full advantage of a traditional cell phone’s capabilities, it must be WAP enabled. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a technology that delivers Internet content from web sites specifically designed for cell phones through a mini browser. Not all websites are supported and most carriers charge a minimal monthly fee for Mobile Internet service. But with it, you can check your web based email account, such as Google’s popular Gmail, get sports scores and keep abreast of breaking news. Some traditional handsets function as a modem, allowing for a feeble Internet connection.

To select which cell phone technology is right for you, first determine your specific requirements. Do you plan to use it for business, requiring access to corporate data? Are you a frequent traveler requiring advanced GPS capabilities? Do you want it to function as an MP3 player? Once your needs have been determined, research which manufacturers offer the best product for the technology that you require. Then, research your local service providers to determine which one offers the best service for the features that you require.

Just because a handset is touted as the latest and greatest, doesn’t mean that it’s the greatest for you and your specific needs. Many websites offer side-by-side comparisons and comprehensive reviews of the latest models.